Apparatus for stacking flat parts



y 5, 1956 H. ALFANDRE ETAL APPARATUS FOR STACKING FLAT PARTS 7Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 7, 1952 IN VEN TORS W (Maw HTTORNEYJ May 15,1956 H. ALFANDRE ETAL APPARATUS FOR STACKING FLAT PARTS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Nov. 7, 1952 WWW 2 TTORNEXS' May 15, 1956 H. ALFANDRE ET ALAPPARATUS FOR STACKING FLAT PARTS Filed Nov. 7, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY(m 224% a 1 Cnluu HT TOR/V195 y 15, 1956 H. 'ALFANDRE ETAL. 2,745,232

APPARATUS FOR STACKING FLAT PARTS Filed NOV. 7, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 4K1; T1 T F157 May 15, 1956. H. ALFANDRE ETAL 2,745,232

APPARATUS FOR STACKING FLAT PARTS Filed NOV. 7, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 y15, 1955 H. ALFANDRE ETAL. 2,745,232

APPARATUS FOR STACKING FLAT PARTS 7 Sheets-Sheet. 6

Filed Nov. 7, 1952 IN VEN TORS HAQV/ 41.54%0/25, 4A/7h0/V) 0. IA/VVC C!APPARATUS FOR STACKING FLAT PARTS Jamaica, N. Y., and Anthony DominicHarry Alfandre,

Conm; said Ianucci assignor to Ianucci, Waterbury, said AlfandreApplication November 7, 1952, Serial No. 319,238 15 Claims. (Cl. 53-126)This invention relates to apparatus for stacking flat parts ofrelatively small dimensions, such as buckles used for straps on ladiesundergarments, and the like.'

It is an advantageous practice to string a supply of buckles of thistype on a temporary track of any suitable inexpensive strip material,not only for their ready shipment and/ or storage, but also for theirrapid and correct placement in strap-and-buckle assembly apparatus, suchas that shown in Patent No. 2,091,176, dated August 24, 1937, issued inthe name of Harry Alfandre.

it is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provideapparatus in which buckles of this type are quickly and automaticallystacked so that an attendant need merely slide a temporary track throughthe aligned apertures in the stacked buckles for their quick mounting onthe track.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide theapparatus With a holder in which a plurality of stacks of buckles aresimultaneously formed during operation of the apparatus.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide theapparatus with quickly interchangeable holders of the above type, sothat empty holders may successively be placed in the apparatus andreceive stacked buckles, while an attendant or attendants string thestacked buckles in a loaded holder or holders outside the apparatus ontotemporary tracks.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more fully understood from the following descriptionconsidered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation of apparatus embodying the presentinvention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are rear and side elevations, respectively, of theapparatus;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections taken on the lines 4-4 and 55, respectively,of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of a stack holder used in theapparatus;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same stack holder;

Figs. 8 and 9 are sections taken on the lines 8-8 and 9-9, respectively,of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 perspectively illustrates a stack of buckles strung on atemporary track;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view of Fig. 9, taken on an enlarged scale,showing one position of the buckles during the stacking operation;

Figs. 12 and 13 are fragmentary views of Fig. 8, taken on an enlargedscale, showing different positions of the buckles during the stackingoperation;

Pig.- 14 is a rear view of apparatus embodying the present invention ina modified manner;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line 1515 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a top view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 14;

2,745,232 Patented May 15, 1956 ice Fig. 17 is a sectional view, on anenlarged scale, taken on the line 17 -117 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a modified form of stackholder; 7 I

Fig. 19 is a side elevational view of the stack holder of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken on the line 2020 of Fig. 18; and

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary end view, taken on an enlarged scale, as viewedin the direction of arrow 21 of Fig. 18. 1

Referring to the patent drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 10,thereof, there is shown a stack s of buckles b strung on a temporarytrack t. The instant buckles b are of a conventional type having twinapertures and being symmetrical about their longitudinal axes x-x. Thus,the apertures in the stacked buckles b are aligned for the passage of atemporary track t through either set of aligned apertures so long as thebuckles extend with their longitudinal axes xx in the same direction.There are a number of differently shaped and apertured conventionalbuckles of the same general type as the ones shown herein, such asbuckles with single apertures, for instance, all of which lendthemselves to ready stringing on temporary tracks if they are stackedwith their symmetrical axes extending in the same direction.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, the reference numeral 20 designates anysuitably supported base on which is mounted a frame composed of oppositeside walls 22 and 24 and a rear wall 26. Mounted on the rear wall 26 andside walls 22 and 24, as by angles 28 and 30, respectively, is aninclined platform 32. Movable on the platform 32 is a slide 34 whichcarries at its top a plate support 36 for a stack holder 38. The slide34 may consist of two spaced sections of wood or any other suitablematerial (Fi 1). The plate support 36 is provided with a depending lug4&1 (Figs. 4 and 5) to which is pivotally connected at 4-2 a link 44,threadedly received by the shank 46 of a follower 48 on an eccentric 56which is mounted on a shaft 52 that is journalled in suitable bearingbrackets 54 on the rear wall 26 (Pig. 2). The shank 46 of the follower48 extends through 'an aperture 56 in the rear wall 26. The shaft 52carries at one end a pulley 58 which through a belt (it) may be drivenfrom any suitable prime mover, such as an electric motor (not shown).

Mounted at 78 on the forwardly bent ends 70 of suitably mounted uprightposts '72 in back of the rear wall 26 is a hopper 74 which is adapted tohold a supply S of buckles b (Fig. 5). Hinged at to the rear wall 82 ofthe hopper 74 is a buckle discharge gate 84 which resembles a scoop,having a bottom wall 86, a rear wall 88 and opposite side walls 90 (Fig.5). The discharge gate 84 rests on an arm 92 which is pivotally mountedat 94 on a bracket 96 on the rear wall 26 and carries an anti-frictionroller 93 that rides on the follower 48 on the eccentric 50. The strokeof the eccentric 50 is relatively short and the latter is driven atrelatively high speed, with the result that the slide 34 and platesupport 36 are rapidly vibrated on the platform 32 in a direction to andfrom the rear wall 26, while rapid oscillatory movements of relativelysmall amplitude are imparted to the discharge gate 84.

It will be noted from Fig. 5 that the portion 85 of the bottom 86 of thedischarge gate 84 directly beneath the discharge end 100 of the hopper'74 slopes less than the remaining part of the bottom 86. With thisarrangement, a certain predetermined average number of buckles b will,during a predetermined time period and during oscillation of thedischarge gate 84, be permitted to leave the hopper 74 through theopening 104 in the front 3 Wall 1% of the latter (Fig. Once dischargedfrom the hopper 74 through the opening tea therein, the buckles b willpass quickly to the discharge end of the oscillated gate 84 andgravitate onto the holder 38 in which they become stacked in a mannerdescribed hereinafter.

The average amount of buckles b released from the hopper 74 during apredetermined time period may be varied by raising and lowering thedischarge gate 8 3 by means of a nut llltl on a threaded rod 112, whichis pivotally connected at 114- with the discharge gate and passesthrough an angle M6 on the front wall of the hopper 74-. in Fig. 5, thedischarge gate 84 is shown adjusted for oscillatory movement of maximumamplitude. Oscillatory movement of smaller amplitude of the dischargegate 84 is readily attained by taking up on the nut llltl, in which casethe discharge gate 84 is oscillated through a part only of each strokeof the eccentric 5b, as will be readily understood.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, there is shown the stackholder 38, which comprises a board lZt) having on its front face 122 aplurality of equally spaced forwardly extending ribs 124 that defineindividual magazines 126, each for the reception of a stack 5 of bucklesb (Fig. 8). The board 1243 may be made from any suitable material, suchas wood or plastic, and me ribs 124 are preferably formed integraltherewith (Fig. 9). The board 120 is preferably also provided at itsside margins with raised ledges 128 on which to support a transparent,preferably plastic, gate 130 which is adapted to cover the open frontsof the individual buckle magazines or channels 126 in the board 129(Fig. 9). he gate 13%, which is removable from the board 12% for areason described hereinafter, is provided with a lateral extension 132with which to engage the bottom surface 134 of the board 12b for thecorrect location of the gate on the latter. Conveniently, the board 120is provided on its opposite sides with angles 136 and 138, respectively,which serve as a guideway in which to slide the gate 130 into and fromposition on the board 120. The board 120 is preferably provided on itsback with a projecting lug 14d by means of which to locate the holder 38on the plate support 36 (Fig. 5). To this end, the plate support 36 isprovided with a slot M2 in which the lug 140 fits. The lug 14a ispreferably tapered as at 144 to facilitate quick registry of the latterwith the slot 142 on placement of the holder 38 on the plate support 36.

The stack holder 38 is further releasably held in place: on the platesupport 36 by means of a spring member 150 on an angle 152 which issecured at 15% to the plate support 36 (Fig. 5). The spring member 154is forced into firm holding engagement with it placed holder 38 on theplate support 36 by means of an eccentric 156 on a stub shaft 158, whichis journalled in suitable bearing brackets 160 on the angle 152 (seealso Fig. 1). The stub shaft convenient handle 162 for turning theeccentric 156. For removal of the holder 38 from the plate support 36,the eccentric 156 is turned to a position in which the spring member15%) is released from the holder 33, whereupon the latter is simplylifted from the plate support 36, as will be readily understood.

The bottoms 123 of the channels or magazines 126 are of arcuateconfiguration and provide longitudinally extending fillet or cornerportions 125 which are adapted to support the buckles b which slide inthe magazines in fiatwise disposition, as best shown in Fig. 11. Thewidth of the buckles b is slightly less than the width of the magazinesor channels 126 and the length of said buckles is preferably slightlyless than the height of said channels. From the above it will beapparent that the buckles b which slide down the bottoms 123 of themagazines 126 will be supported at the corner portions 125 of saidbottoms or bottom walls so as to space 5:30 is provided with a saidbuckles from said bottoms between the buckle support points defined bythe corner portions 125 of the bottom walls of the channels. Thus thebuckles b when disposed in fiatwise disposition on the bottoms 12.3 ofchannels 126 are in contact only at the corner portions E25 of saidbottoms and defines the space c between said buckles and the bottoms 123of the magazines or channels 12-6. As previously noted the length of thebuckles b is slightly less than the height of the channels 126 so thatin the stacked condition of said buckles there will be some clearancebetween the upper ends e of said buckles and the bottom face 127 of thegate 7.30. The ribs 124 of the stack holder 38 are preferably maderelatively narrow consistent with structural rigidity in order tominimize the possibilty of jamming of the buckles b at the entrance tothe magazines 126. On placing the holder 38 on the plate support 36 asshown in Fig. 5, and starting the appartus the buckles b will bereleased from the hopper 74 and will gravitate onto the board of saidholder to the entrance of all the magazines 126 therein (Figs. 1 and 5).The buckles b will be suificiently agitated on the vibrating board 120by the means aforedescribed to find their way into the magazines 126where they will become stacked in a certain disposition in the mannernow to be described in detail.

With reference to Figs. 11-13, it will be noted that the buckles b willslide down the channels 126 in face down disposition towards the lowerend of said channels. Substantially all of the buckles are forced intostacked disposition at the lower end of each channel through a mutualwedging action which results from the fact that substantially all of thebuckles b of any one channel slide underneath each other as shown inFigs. 12 and 13 to thereby gradually force the leading buckles intoerect disposition progressively. As previously noted there will be aspace 0 defined between the bottoms 123 of the channels and the bucklesb in face-down disposition and this space permits the buckles of aseries to slide underneath each other to provide the aforenoted mutualwedging action. t will be understood that during this operation theholder 38 will be vibrated and space c will permit a rocking action ofthe buckles b relative to their longitudinal axes, for example buckle b1will be forced into the disposition shown in Fig. 12 in the manneraforedescribed whereby the next adjacent buckle b2 will partially slideunderneath buckle bi and the further continual operation of theapparatus will be effective to force all of the buckles b in the stackinto an erect disposition. It is possible that one or more buckles in achannel will be oppositely disposed as indicated at b3 in Fig. 13 andsuch buckles which thus misarranged simply space the correctly stackedbuckles in each of the channels. Thus, as shown in Fig. 13, themisarranged buckle b merely spaces stacks s and s, the correctly stackedbuckles being strung on a. temporary track in the manner previouslynoted. From the above therefore it will be seen that once in themagazines 126, the buckles b slide in facedown disposition towards thebottom of the magazines due to the inclination of the agitated holder33, which is inclined to a horizontal plane preferably less than 45degrees as shown on the drawings. The consecutive buckles b in eachmagazine 126 crowd each other and become stacked by the above describedmutual wedging action which is induced by the vibration of the stackholder 38. It is of paramount importance that the bottoms 123 ofchannels 126 be so related relative to the flat buckles b as to define aspace c therebetween when said buckles are in a face-down disposition sothat when said buckles are in said disposition they may be permitted torock relative to their longitudinal axes so that adjacent buckles mayslide underneath each other to provide the mutual wedging action whichultimately results in the stacking of the buckles b in erect dispositionas indicated by the stack s shown in Figs. 8 and 13.

.5 Whenthe magazines .126 are filled so as to hold complete bucklestacks s, the apparatus. is stopped and the loadedholder 38 is removedfrom the latter by an attendant who thereupon removes the gate 130 fromthe board 120 to expose the stacked buckles in the magazine and permittheir being strung on temporary tracks by simply passing the latterthrough aligned apertures in the several buckle stacks while they arestill in their respective channels 126. The Strung buckles arepreferably held against removal from their temporary tracks by simplydriving conventional staples (not shown) into the projecting ends of thetracks. Accordingly, the temporary tracks are preferably made fromreadily piercable material which moreover provides for the ready releaseof the buckles from the tracks by cutting the projecting ends thereof.In practice, there are provided interchangeable stack holders 38 whichmaybe used alternately in the apparatus, permitting thereby continuousoperation of the latter except while interchanging these holders in theapparatus, while an attendant may devote most of his or her time tostring the stacked buckles b in the holder or holders removed from theapparatus. While double apertured buckles b have been illustrated in theinstant embodiment, it will be understood that the instant apparatusreadily lends itself to differently shaped and apertured conventionalbuckles of the same general character as buckle b.

With reference to Figs. 14-17, there is shown a modified form ofapparatus 17% which is similar to the apparatus previously describedexcept in the respects to be hereafter pointed out in detail. Theapparatus 170 is pro: vided with a hopper 172 which is adapted tocontain a supply of buckles b. The hopper 172 is of the fixed type andis not provided with a vibrating or agitating discharge gate as in thecase of the hopper 74. The rear wall 174 of the hopper 172 is secured toone end 176 of an'upright' support 178 in any suitable manner, theopposite end 180 of said support being bolted or otherwise secured to.the base member 182. The base member 182 is supported by the rearvertical wall 184 which is structurally similar to the rear wall 26 ofthe previously described embodiment. relative to the wall 184 and is notadapted to be vibrated. A base 186 is suitably secured to the supportmember182 in any desired manner and said base is adapted to mount thevibratory feeder 188 which is preferably of the wellknown Syntron type.The Syntron vibratory feeder 188 will not be described in detail as sucha feeder is conventional and well known, andforms no part of the presentinvention. The vibratory feeder 1%8 is providedwith a vibrating trough190 which is adapted to receive the buckles b contained in the hopper172. Thevibrating trough 1% has a substantially level base wall 192,which receives the buckles b discharged from the hopper 172, side walls1% and a rear wall 195. Thus the vibrating trough 199 is of scoop-likeformation with the base wall 192 thereof being positioned so as toreceive the dis charged buckles from the hopper 172, it being noted thatsaid trough is spaced from the hopper 172 and is not in contact withanything rigid. The vibratory feeder 188 is further mounted on the base136 through the intermediation of conventional vibration dampeners sothat the vibrations produced by said vibratory feeder is not transmittedto the base 186 and associated structure. The vibrating trough 1% isfurther provided with an inclined discharge chute 194 which has a basewall 196 which form a continuation of the base wall 1% ofthe trough 180. The discharge chute 194 is adapted to. receive the buckles b from thebase wall 192 of the vibrating trough 190 and is adapted to direct suchbuckles onto the stack holder 33. The discharge chute 194 is providedwith a series of spaced vanes or ribs 1955 which define the guideways orpassages 201 which are adapted to receive the buckles b from theho-pper172 and discharge them onto the stack holder 33. The ribs 198 aredivergingly arranged on chute 194 so as to evenly disperse'the bucklesThus the hopper 172 is mounted in fixed relation 'tering the spacedefined by the extensions 124".

' 6 b from the hopper 172 onto the stacker holder 38. It will beunderstood that the discharge chute 194 may be dispensed withif-desired, in which case trough 190 will be arranged to discharge thebuckles directly onto the holder 31$, and the sole function of saidchute is to distribute in diverging 'paths the buckles b from the hopper1'72 to all of the channels 126' of the holder 38. The

vibratory feeder 188' is provided with a variable control of the rate offlow, as is conventional in apparatus of this character, whereby therate of flow of the buckles b from the hopper 172 to the holder 38 maybe varied. The mechanism for vibrating the stack holder 38 issubstantially identical with the mechanism for vibrating holder Thus thebasic structural distinctions between the apparatus 170 and thepreviously described embodiment resides in fixedly 38 of thepreviouslydescribed embodiment.

j relativelyshort extensions 124", the latter being substantiallyshorter in height than the ribs 124, said extensions having their endstapered in the manner shown in Fig. 18 so as to constitute directingmeans for the buckles b positioned on the flat portion 202 and en- Theboard 38 is further provided with a removable rod 204 which is adaptedto be relatively loosely supported by the screweyes 2% which are securedto the board 38. The rod 204 is adapted to extend transversely of theboard for substantially the full width thereof in the region of anddirectly above the extensions 124", as best shown in Fig. 21. The rod204 is vertically spaced above the extensions 124" a small amount andconstitutes means to limit or restrict the number of buckles b enteringthe channels 126' at any one time. Accordingly the transverselyextending rod 204 in conjunction with the rib extensions 124"constitutes directing structure which serves to guide the buckles intothe channels and further prevents an excessive number of buckles b fromentering the channels 126 at one time. From the above it will beapparent that the board 38 is structurally similar to the board 38aforedescribed except that board 38 is provided with the rib extensions124 and the removable rod 204. The apparatus and its associated stackingboard 38 function in the manner previously described in detail to stackthe buckles b in the channels 126 in erect disposition. it will beevident that stacking boards 38 and 38' may be used interchangeably andthat board 33 may be used in the first described embodiment.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it will be understood that various change'smay be made in thepresent invention without departing from the underlying idea orprinciples of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for stacking identical fiat parts in faceto-face verticaldisposition, comprising support means having an apertured supportingsurface and being vibratory in an inclined plane in the direction of theinclination, a magazine resting on said supporting surface and having aprojection receivable in the aperture in said surface, said magazinelongitudinally extending in the direction of vibration of said supportmeans and having a longitudinally extending channel closed at its lowerend and being throughout of slightly greater width than any of said flatparts, the bottom of said channel having raised corner portions so thatportions of said flat parts 7 will be spaced from the bottom of saidchannel when said fiat parts are positioned face down therein, saidchannel being open at its upper end for the reception of said flatparts, means for introducing the fiat parts to the channel inhorizontal, face-down position therein,

a manually operable clamp carried by said support means and engageablewith the bottom of said magazine for clamping said projection laterallyin said aperture, and means for vibrating said support means forconcomitantly vibrating said magazine in the direction of said inclinedplane.

2. Apparatus for stacking identical flat parts in faceto-face verticaldisposition, comprising a magazine longitudinally vibratory in aninclined plane in the direction of the inclination, said magazine havinga longitudinally extending channel closed at its lower end and beingthroughout of slightly greater width than any of said flat parts, thebottom of said channel being transversely concave so that portions ofsaid fiat parts will be spaced from the bottom of said channel when saidfiat parts are positioned face down therein, said channel being open atits upper end for the reception of said fiat parts, means forintroducing the fiat parts to the channel in horizontal, face-downposition therein, and means for longitudinally vibrating said magazine,said last mentioned means comprising an eccentric rotatable about anaxis at right angles to the direction of vibration of said magazine, adriving link between said eccentric and magazine, and means for drivingsaid eccentric.

3. Apparatus for stacking identical flat parts in faceto-face verticaldisposition, comprising a stacking board having a plurality of uprightribs defining therebetween a plurality of magazines, said stacking boardbeing longitudinally vibratory in an inclined plane in the direction ofthe inclination, each of said magazines having a longitudinallyextending channel closed at its lower end and being throughout ofslightly greater width than any of said flat parts, the bottom of saidchannels being of generally arcuate configuration so that portions ofsaid flat parts will be spaced from the bottom of said channels whensaid fiat parts are positioned face down therein, said channels beingopen at their upper ends for the reception of said fiat parts, means forintroducing the flat parts to the channel in horizontal, face-downposition therein, and means for longitudinally vibrating said stackingboard, whereby said face-down flat parts will slide down said channelstowards the lower end thereof into overlapping dispositions and beprogressively urged into stacked vertical disposition through a mutualwedging action.

4. Apparatus for stacking identical fiat parts in faceto-face verticaldisposition, comprising a stacking board having a plurality oflongitudinally extending upright ribs defining therebetween a pluralityof magazines, said ribs being shorter than the length of said boardwhereby the latter is provided with an end portion having a surfacethereof in communication with said magazines, said stacking board beinglongitudinally vibratory in an inclined plane in the direction of theinclination, each of said magazines having a longitudinally extendingchannel closed at its lower end and being throughout of slightly greaterwidth than any of said flat parts, the bottom of said channels being ofgenerally arcuate configuration so that portions of said fiat parts willbe spaced from the bottom of said channels when said fiat parts arepositioned face down therein, said channels being open at their upperends for the reception of said flat parts, said board end portion beingadapted to receive said flat parts and direct the latter into said channIs in horizontal face-down position, and means for longitudinallyvibrating said stacking board.

5. Apparatus for stacking identical flat parts in faceto-face verticaldisposition, comprising a stacking board having a plurality oflongitudinally extending upright ribs defining therebetween a pluralityof magazines, said ribs being shorter than the length of said boardwhereby the latter is provided with an end portion having a surfacethereof in communication with said magazines, said stacking board beinglongitudinally vibratory in an inclined plane in the direction of theinclination, each of said magazines having a longitudinally extendingchannel closed at its lower end and being throughout of slightly greaterwidth than any of saidvflat parts, the bottom of said channels being ofgenerally arcuate configuration so that portions of said flat parts willbe spaced from the bottom of said channels when said fiat parts arepositioned face down therein, said channels being open at its upper endfor the reception of said flat parts, said ribs having a substantiallyflat longitudinally extending upper edge, a removable cover disposedabove said channels and having lower face portions thereof adapted tolie closely adjacent to said fiat edges of said ribs whereby saidchannels will be closed except at said upper ends, said board endportion being adapted to receive said flat parts and direct the latterinto said channels in horizontal face-down position, and means forlongitudinallyyibrating said stacking board.

6. Apparatus for stacking identical fiat parts in face-toface verticaldisposition, comprising a magazine longitudinally vibratory in aninclined plane in the direction of the inclination, said magazine havinga longitudinally extending channel closed at its lower end and beingthroughout of slightly greater width than any of said flat parts, thebottom of said channel having raised corner portions so that portions ofsaid flat parts will be spaced from the bottom of said channel when saidflat parts are positioned face down therein, said channel being open atits upper end for the reception of said flat parts, said magazine havingan extension portion, the upper face of the latter being in alignmentwith the bottom of said channel, said face of said extension portionbeing adapted to receive said flat parts and direct the latter into saidchannels in horizontal face-down position, a hopper above said magazineadapted to hold a supply of flat parts and being open at the bottom, apivoted scoop-like discharge gate at the bottom of said hopper, meansfor vibrating said magazine in its direction of reciprocation, saidmeans simultaneously oscillating said gate to shake parts from saidhopper and drop them on said magazine extension portion.

7. Apparatus for stacking identical flat parts in face-toface verticaldisposition, comprising a magazine longitudinally vibratory in aninclined plane in the direction of the inclination, said magazine havinga longitudinally extending channel closed at its lower end and beingthroughout of slightly greater width than any of said flat parts, thebottom of said channel having raised corner portions so that portions ofsaid flat parts will be spaced from the bottom of said channel when saidflat parts are positioned face down therein, said channel being open atits upper end for the reception of said flat parts, said magazine havingan extension portion, the upper face of the latter being in alignmentwith the bottom of said channel, said face of said extension portionbeing adapted to receive said flat parts and direct the latter into saidchannels in horizontal face-down position, a hopper above said magazineadapted to hold a supply of flat parts and being open at the bottom, apivoted scoop-like discharge gate at the bottom of said hopper, aneccentric rotatable about an axis extending at right angles to thedirection of reciprocation of said magazine in a plane substantiallyparallel to that in which the pivot axis of said discharge gate lies, anoperating link between said eccentric and magazine, a follower whichcooperates with said eccentric and on which said gate rests remotelyfrom its pivot axis to be oscillated thereby for shaking parts from saidhopper and drop them on said magazine extension portion, and means fordriving said eccentric.

8. Apparatus for stacking identical fiat parts, in face-toface verticaldisposition, comprising a magazine longitudinally vibratory in aninclined plane in the direction of the inclination, said magazine havinga longitudinally extending channel closed at its lower end and beingthroughout of slightly greater width than any of said flat parts, thebottom of said channel having raised corner portions so that portions ofsaid flat parts will bespaced from the bottom of said channel when saidflat parts are positioned face down therein, said channel being open atits upper end for the reception of said flat parts, said magazine havingan extension portion, the upper face of the latter being in alignmentwith the bottom of said channel, said face of said extension portionbeing adapted to receive said flat parts and direct the latter into saidchannel in horizontal face-down position, a hopper above said magazineadapted to hold a supply of flat parts and being open at the bottom, apivoted scoop-like discharge gate at the bottom of said hopper, aneccentric rotatable about an axis extending at right angles to thedirection of reciprocation of said magazine in a plane substantiallyparallel to that in which the pivot axis of said discharge gate lies, anoperating link between said eccentric and magazine, a follower whichcooperates with said eccentric and on which said gate rests remotelyfrom its pivot axis to be oscillated thereby for shaking parts from saidhopper and drop them on said magazine extension portion, means fordriving said eccentric, a stop adjustable into positions in which saidgate Will become seated thereon during a part of each revolution of saideccentric, thereby to shorten the amplitude of the oscillation of saidgate.

9. Apparatus for stacking identical flat parts in face-toface verticaldisposition, comprising a magazine longitudinally vibratory in aninclined plane in the direction of the inclination, said magazine havinga longitudinally extending channel closed at its lower end and beingthroughout of slightly greater width than any of said flat parts, thebottom of said channels having raised corner portions so that portionsof said flat parts will be spaced from the bottom of said channel whensaid flat parts are positioned face down therein, said channel beingopen at its upper end for the reception of said flat parts, saidmagazine having an extension portion, the upper face of the latter beingin alignment with the bottom of said channel, said face of saidextension portion being adapted to receive said flat parts and directthe latter into said channels in horizontal face-down position, a fixedhopper disposed above said magazine and adapted to hold a supply of flatparts, said hopper being open at the bottom, a vibratory receptacledisposed below the open bottom of said hopper and above said magazineextension portion, said receptacle being adapted to receive said flatparts from said hopper and drop them on said magazine extension portionfor stacking in said magazine, and means for simultaneously vibratingsaid magazine and said receptacle.

10. Apparatus for stacking identical flat parts in face-toface verticaldisposition, comprising a magazine longitudinally vibratory in aninclined plane in the direction of the inclination, said magazine havinga longitudinally extending channel closed at its lower end and beingthroughout of slightly greater width than any of said fiat parts, thebottom of said channel having raised longitudinally extending cornerformations defining a depressed portion extending longitudinally andmedially of said channel whereby portions of said flat parts will bespaced from the bottom of said channel when said flat parts arepositioned face down therein, said channel being open at its upper endfor the reception of said flat parts in face-down disposition, and meansfor longitudinally vibrating said magazine, whereby said face-down flatparts will slide down said channel towards the lower end thereof intooverlapping dispositions and be progressively urged into stackedvertical disposition through a mutual wedging action.

11. Apparatus for stacking identical flat parts in face-toface verticaldisposition, comprising a magazine longitudinally-vibratory in aninclined plane in the direction of the inclination, said magazine havinga longitudinally extending channel closed at its lower end and beingthroughout of slightly greater width than any of said fiat parts,

the bottom of said channel being transversely concave whereby portionsof said flat parts will be spaced from the bottom of said channel whensaid flat parts are positioned face-down therein, said channel being ofa depth at least equal to the length of any of said flat parts with saidchannel being open at its upper end for the reception of said flat partsin face-down disposition, and means for longitudinally vibrating saidmagazine, whereby said face-down flat parts will slide down said channeltowards the lower end thereof into overlapping dispositions and beprogressively urged into stacked vertical disposition through a mutualwedging action.

12. Apparatus for stacking identical flat parts in face-to-face verticaldisposition, comprising a magazine longitudinally vibratory in aninclined plane in the direction of the inclination, said magazine havinga longitudinally extending channel closed at its lower end and beingthroughout of slightly greater width than any of said flat parts, thebottom of said channel having raised longitudinally extending cornerformations defining a depressed portion extending longitudinally andmedially of said channel whereby portions of said flat parts will bespaced from the bottom of said channel when said fiat parts arepositioned face-down therein, said channel be ing open at its upper endfor the reception of said flat parts in face-down disposition, saidmagazine being inclined less than 45 degrees to a horizontal plane, andmeans for longitudinally vibrating said magazine, whereby said face-downflat parts will slide down said channel towards the lower end thereofinto overlapping dispositions and be progressively urged into stackedvertical disposition through a mutual wedging action.

13. Apparatus for stacking identical flat parts in faceto-face verticaldisposition, comprising support means reciprocable in an inclined planein the direction of the inclination, a magazine releasably carried bysaid support means and longitudinally extending in the direction ofreciprocation of the latter, said magazine having a longitudinallyextending channel closed at its lower end and being throughout ofslightly greater width than any of said flat parts, the bottom of saidchannel having raised longitudinally extending corner formationsdefining a depressed portion extending longitudinally and medially ofsaid channel whereby portions of said fiat parts will be spaced from thebottom of said channel when said flat parts are positioned face-downtherein, said channel being open at its upper end for the reception ofsaid fiat parts in face-down disposition, and means for longitudinallyvibrating said support means for concomitantly vibrating said magazine.

14. Apparatus for stacking identical fiat parts in faceto-face verticaldisposition, comprising a magazine longitudinally vibratory in aninclined plane in the direction of the inclination, said magazine havinga longitudinally extending channel closed at its lower end and beingthroughout of slightly greater width than any of said flat parts, thebottom of said channel having raised longitudinally extending cornerformations defining a depressed portion extending longitudinally andmedially of said channel whereby portions of said flat parts will bespaced from the bottom of said channel when said flat parts arepositioned face-down therein, said channel being open at its upper endfor the reception of said flat parts in face-down disposition, saidmagazine having an extension portion, the upper face of the latter beingin alignment with the bottom of said channel, said face of saidextension portion being adapted to receive said fiat parts and directthe latter into said channels in ho-rizontal face-down position, andmeans for longitudinally vibrating said magazine.

15. Apparatus for stacking identical fiat parts in faceto-face verticaldisposition, comprising a magazine longitudinally vibratory in aninclined plane in the direction of the inclination, said magazine havinga longitudinally extending channel closed at its lower end and beingthroughout of slightly greater Width than any of said flat parts, thebottom of said channel being transverse 1y concave'whereby portions ofsaid fiat parts will be spaced from the bottom of said channel when saidflat parts are positicned face-down therein, said channel being of adepth at least equal to the length of any of said fiat parts with saidchannel being open. at its upper end for the reception of said fiatparts in face-down disposition, a removable cover disposed above saidchannel for closing the latter at the top thereof, and means forlongitudinally vibrating said magazine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS PotterDec. 8, Townsend July 17, Griffith Apr. 16, Bower Mar. 25, Smith June 7,Kiessling et a1. May 9, Slootsky Sept. 24, Blackstone Aug. 8, Neilsen eta1. July 29,

